New for 2015: This year, we’re extending the hours of PARK(ing) Day! Parks can now remain open from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. This will give park hosts the opportunity to extend programming into the early evening and offer visitors a chance to see more of the city’s creative pop-up parks. Check out the PARK(ing) Day guidelines for more information.

PARK(ing) Day happens once a year, on the third Friday in September, and is an opportunity for Seattleites to temporarily turn on-street parking spaces into public places. This international event raises awareness about the importance of a walkable, livable, healthy city and helps people re-think how our streets can be used.

Last year’s PARK(ing) Day was Seattle’s biggest yet, with 50 pop-up parks across the city. Visitors played life-size Jenga in Pioneer Square, made their own smoothies in West Seattle, and listened to stories at the “banned books” library in Belltown.

Interested in joining the fun and creating your own park this year? Check out the Planning Your Park page to learn how. Applying for a pop-up park is easy and anyone in Seattle can participate! PARK(ing) Day applications aren’t accepted until early August, but you can start planning your park by looking through the program guidelines and visiting the PARK(ing) Day Gallery page for inspiration.

This year’s parking day also falls during the Seattle Design Festival. The festival team will be organizing awards for PARK(ing) Day parks in several categories, and will be announcing the winners on social media and at the Seattle Design Festival’s Closing Party.